Q: A combination of overwatering and this heat caused my 9-year-old dwarf pomegranate leaves to yellow and drop on about a third of the plant. I turned off the water and hand watered it with small amounts of water. The only thing I did differently was to give the plants a small dose of Miracle-Gro in the spring. Any suggestions?

Q: You emphasized it’s better to water longer rather than more often. But what if that’s not possible? Our small condo community has an old irrigation system with everything watered from the same lines. We irrigate for nearly 24 hours. Less than that and small plants really struggle. Is there anything we can do?

Maybe you already heard the story about the little old lady who drove through a stop sign in Sun City Summerlin, and when stopped by a police officer she responded, “I don’t have to pay attention to stop signs. I live here!”

Alpine Lakes Loop Trail is one of the best all-around hikes in Great Basin National Park, especially if you’re hiking with people of varying ages and abilities. The loop trail features fantastic views of Wheeler Peak, 13,063 feet in elevation and the second-highest in Nevada. The hike also passes two pretty mountain lakes.

This is the time of year we see a rise in humidity along with a threat from afternoon rains. This rise in humidity and high nighttime temperatures can also bring plant disease problems. You can do something now to prevent diseases before they occur.

Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah is on everybody’s list of must-see places in the Southwest, but during summer, dealingwith the crowds and traffic can be frustrating at best. However, if you have some flexibility in your schedule, there’s aremedy. Check out the park’s popular main area, with its natural amphitheaters filled with striking hoodoo formations, firstthing in the morning, before most visitors arrive. Then set out to other areas of Bryce for hiking.

Q: Please settle a disagreement between my wife and me. Each spring my wife plants several plants in pots for our patio using bagged potting soil. Each year a few of them die and others live. This happened two years in a row. I contend the potting soils need to have some real dirt mixed in with it to make them better.